Mail box



Aug. 23 1927'.

D. s. DILLEINBACIH MAIL BOX Filed June 11 1926 Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 it y? ,imz'aidjz'iakfzi INVENTOR Z25; j

ATTORNEY I, T -l,640,2 D. s. DILLENBACH 68 MAIL BOX File d June 11 192 3 Sheets-Sheet? I JarzzfeJJJiJle ATTORNEY mqzw o. s. DILLENBACH MAIL BOX 3 Shutl-Shut 3 Jazz Filed Ju 11 1926 WITNESS:

Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNITED STATES DANIEL S. DILLENBACH,

OF HASTINGS, NEBRASKA.

MAIL BOX.

Application filed June 11, 1926. Serial No. 115,326.

This invention relates to mail boxes, and contemplates a novel construction of box and means for supporting the latter, whereby the box may be swung from a normal vertical position, outwardly to a substantially horizontal position to permit the contents of the box to be readily and quickly removed.

In carrying out the invention I make use of a stationary frame-like support upon which the box is mounted for pivotal movement, and arranged to hold itself in a vertical or closed position, the box being open at the top and rear for a portion of its length to permit the contents of the box to be quickly and easily removed when the latter is swung to a substantially horizontal position, the upper end of the box being. normally closed by a pivoted cover mounted on the frame-like support, and beneath which the box is adapted-to move when it is returned to its normal position.

Another 0b ect of the invention resides in the provision of a hinged support for the box whereby the latter can be held in different opened positions depending upon the construction of the hinged support.

The nature andadvantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detail description is read in connection with the'accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application like numerals of reference indi cate similar parts in the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the box and its support, showing by dotted lines the opened position ofthe cover of the box to permit mail matter to be inserted within the latter.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Figure 1. I

bottom plan View of the Figure 3 is a box.

Figure 4 1s a fragmentary sectional view showing how the box is supported in an opened position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the box and support showing a modified construction of hinge.

Figure 6 is a similar view showing how this hinge supports the box in an opened position.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a box and support of that the box can be conveniently swungfrom its normal vertical position, outwardly to the position shown in Figure 4. The support 10 has itsopposed longitudinal edges extended to provide flanges 11 while the upper edge of the support is formed with a similar flange 12, the box being received between said flanges when moved to its closed position, and the flanges assist in preventing rain water and the like from entering the box through the topor rear thereof, which is open in a manner to be hereinafter described to facilitate the removal of the contents of the box. Pivoted as at 13 between the parallel flanges 11 of the support is a cover 14 for the box, and as shown in Figure 1 this cover is normally inclined downwardly to allow rain water and the like to run off the top of the box as will be readily understood. The cover extends a slight distance beyond the front wall of the box to provide a finger hold so that the cover can be conveniently opened when desired.

The box includes a front wall 15, rear wall. 16 and opposed side walls 17, the rear wall 16 terminating an appreciable distance from the upper edge of the box to provide an opening, which together with the open up per end of the box permits the mail matter to be very quickly and easily removed therefrom when the box has been swung to the position shown in Figure 1. The box is provided with a suitable handle 18 for this purpose. Secured in any suitable manner to the frame-like support 10 adjacent the lower end thereof is an extension 19 pro jecting forwardly from the support and at a right angle thereto, and upon which the box is pivotally mounted. This extension 19 is cut away as at 20 to provide lugs 21 which are rolled upon themselves to form bearings which together with the bearings 22 of the box receive th pivot bolts 23 as clearly shown in Figure 3. The sides of the box also extend beneath the extension 19 of the frame-like support as at 24t when the box is in its closed position. The pivot rod 23 has one end o'lfset and formed with an eye 25 which is secured to the adjacent side of the box by a suitable fastening element 26, so that by removing the fastening element 26 the pivot rod 23 can be also separated from the box to permit the latter to be detached from the supporting frame for any pu 'pose WlhttSOQVQI. It will be further noted that the cover 14 is provided with side walls 27 which extend an appreciable d stance beyond the adjacent sides of the box, and one of these side walls 27 is bent inwardly to provide 1115128 which normally contacts the adjacent flange 11 ot the support to limit the movement oi the cover in one direction. The cover is so positioned with relation to the box by means of the lug 28, that when the box is moved from the position shown in Figure 4. to the position shown in Figure 1 it passes beneath but in close proximity to the cover 1e. Secured to the frame-like support 10 at an appropriate point in its length is an outwardly inclined plate 29 having its lower edge bent at a right angle as at 30 in the direction ot the support, and this plate is utilized to prevent mail matter deposited in the upper end of the box to pass between the rear wall 16 of the latter and the support 10. As above stated the rear wall of the box is cut away, or relat vely short as compared with the front wall, and mail matter might possibly find its way between the rear wall of the box and the support 10 if it were not for the plate 29. However the latter is so arranged as to overlie the upper edge of the rear wall 16 when the box is closed as shown in Figure 1, and thereby directs the mail matter into the box should it come in contact with the plate 29.

In practice, the box is hinged adjacent its outer edge, and when the box is arranged in the position shown in Figure 1, the "weight of the box normally holds itself in this position. Mail matter can be conveniently deposited in the box by lifting the cover 14. W hen it is desired to remove the contents of the box, it is only necessary "to swing the latter to the position shown in Figure .4, the opening in the top and rear wall providing ample space to permit the hand to be quickly inserted for the purpose of removing the contents of the box. The box can then be easily returned to its normal position, moving beneath the cover 14.

In Figures 5 to 7 inclusive I have illustra-ted a modified construction, which difiers from the construction above described and the specific manner of mounting the box for pivotal movement. In this form of the invention the frame-like support is indicated at 31 and is of the same construction as hereina-hove described except that the support has attached to the lower end thereofa substantially rectangular frame 32 used in the place of the extension 19 above described The box is indicated generally at 33 and is of the same constructionas hereinabovedescribed including a relatively short rear wall 321: which normally lies directly beneath the inclined. plate 35 which is used for the same purpose as hereinabove described in connection with the plate 29. However in this form 01? the invention the bottom of: the box is hingedly connected as at 36 with the forward end of the rectangular frame 32 as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6, and also connected with the opposed or rear side of the frame 32 by a two-part hinge, the respective parts of which are indicated at 37 and 33 and hingedly connected together as at39. The part 37 of the hinge is pivoted as at 40 bet-ween a pair of spaced parallel lugs 4i projecting from the adjacent side of the frame 32, while the part 38 of the hinge is pivotally connected with the bottom of the box This section 38 of the hinge receives the pivot rod 42 which is secured to the bottom of the box in them-annexshown in Figure 7, and for which purpose the rod is provided with an offset extremity a3 terminating to provide a hook-like portion d4 to receive a fastening bolt '45 having a nut 46 associated therewith, so that the pivot rod can be quickly and easily removed when desired. In Figure '7 47 indicates one mi-t of the hinge which connects the box 33 to the forward edge of the frame-like support 32. In this form of the invention the box can be swung outwardly to an opened position as indicated in Figure 6, the sition occupied by the box with relation to the support 31 can be varied, as it depends upon the length of the hinge including the sections 37 and 38. Manifestly when the box is returned to its normal position, the sec-' tions 37 and 38 told to occupy the positions shown in Figure 5, thus allowing the box to be arranged against the ft'ramedike sup-' port 31.

In Figures "8' and "9 l have shown another form of the invent-ion which difie-renti-ates from the other forms in the construction of the frame-like support for the box. li -desired the frame-like support 48 maybe constructed from wire, with the rear of the support formed from metal or other suitable m aterial49 having its edges rolled about the frame 48 as indicated at 50 in Figure 9. This wall 49 may also extend a sligl1t distance along the bottom of the support and formed with spaced parallel lugs 51, between which the brace 52 is pivoted. The other end of this brace is pivotally connected with the sections 53' of a hinge, which sections are pivotally mounted on the forward end of the frame 48 as indicated at 54:, the other section of the hinge 53 being connected with the sections 53 at the forward edge of the box as indicated at 54;. The box 55 is therefore mounted to be swung outwardly to horizontal position when it is desired to remove the contents from the box. The box is of the same construction as hereinabove described, that is it includes a relatively 3' short rear wall 56 above which is arranged the outwardly inclined plate 57 carried by the support for the box, and used for the same purpose as the plate 29 hereinabove described.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood, that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

In combination, a frame-like support, an extension projecting forwardly from the lower end thereof, a mail box mounted for pivotal movement on said extension and capable of being swung from a vertical closed position to a horizontal open position, a sectional extensible brace with its sections pivotally connected together and adapted to lie in superimposed relation beneath the box when the latter is closed, one of said sections being pivotally connected to the bottom of the box, and the other section pivoted to the support, whereby said sections assume a diagonal position with relation to the box to support the latter horizontally in open p sition, said box being open at its top, and a downwardly inclined pivoted cover normally closing the box.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

DANIEL s. DILLENBACH. 

